For me I work in the same building as the laboratory, therefore I use a collection container and deliver it "fresh" to the lab. I'm lucky because I'm fairly regular and donate around the same time everyday (9am) therefore I just walk down to the lab. A fellow donor is more of a night person, so they store it overnight in a container and bring it in the next day.
The containers are just plastic containers (like a margarine container)m, single use. You place it in a trapezoid shape holder. Then place it on the toilet. If you place it one direction it collects stool, if you place it the other direction it collects urine. So yes, we do keep them separate.
If I have a bout of diarrhea, I stop donating and wait for it to clear. I then collect samples and send to the lab for testing (ova and parasite, regular fecal culture, norovirus, hepatitis and some other viral testing). If I'm clear, I can continue to donate. This same process happens if I go on antibiotics or if I travel out of country. So anything goes, minus liquid stool.
As for diet, I'm actually encouraged not to change my diet. My flora has shown to work well for recipients, and therefore if I change my diet I might change my flora.
The containers are just plastic containers (like a margarine container)m, single use. You place it in a trapezoid shape holder. Then place it on the toilet. If you place it one direction it collects stool, if you place it the other direction it collects urine. So yes, we do keep them separate.
If I have a bout of diarrhea, I stop donating and wait for it to clear. I then collect samples and send to the lab for testing (ova and parasite, regular fecal culture, norovirus, hepatitis and some other viral testing). If I'm clear, I can continue to donate. This same process happens if I go on antibiotics or if I travel out of country. So anything goes, minus liquid stool.
As for diet, I'm actually encouraged not to change my diet. My flora has shown to work well for recipients, and therefore if I change my diet I might change my flora.